Duncan will not exercise option, no extension

Posted on: June 28, 2011 11:59 am

Edited on: June 28, 2011 12:39 pm

Posted by Matt Moore

Tim Duncan has a player's option to become a free agent. Duncan endured a pretty disappointing season when the Spurs obtained the top seed but were bounced in the first round. Add an aging roster that Tony Parker publicly said (then recanted) is finished contending, and most All-Stars would test free agency, if for no other reason than to secure the best long-term deal to finish their careers.

But Duncan is not such an All-Star. Instead, he will not opt-out and will finish the final year of his contract.

From the San Antonio Express-News:

Tim Duncan is not expected to opt out of the final year of his contract, and the Spurs don’t plan to offer him an extension before the collective bargaining agreement expires Thursday, according to a source familiar with talks between the team and the franchise icon. As such, Duncan will play out the final year of his existing deal, during which he is scheduled to earn $21.2 million, and remains on track to become a free agent after the 2011-12 campaign.

It's a good fit on both sides. Duncan gets to make the max money, unlimited by a possible change to his first-year contract under the new CBA. The team doesn't have to worry about fitting Duncan in under a harder cap.

Now, Duncan will become a free agent in 2012, which means even if there's a delay in the new CBA taking hold, his next contract will either have to be shorter or facilitate what will likely be a smaller, harder cap. But at that point, he'll be just about ready to retire, so a shorter-term contract won't be much of a problem.

The Spurs' decision not to offer isn't surprising; it's likely part of the overall plan. The team isn't worried about Duncan finishing elsewhere. If he does, it'll be his decision, and a chance for the Spurs to truly move forward with rebuilding. But if that's the way things go down, it'll likely mean the end of the Popovich era as well.

Heading into this lockout, the forecast was even stormier for the Spurs than it was for the rest of the league.

Duncan will not exercise option, no extension

I believe the plan is to pay duncan high this year , then he will accept a small low dollar contract for 2-3 more years, simular to what they were doing with Robinson before he retired.

Since: May 7, 2011

Posted on: June 28, 2011 6:37 pm

Duncan will not exercise option, no extension

This upcoming year will be "Timmy D." last year in San Antonio. If he decides to play for someone else it will be a 1 year deal. My gut feeling is that he will retire as a member of the SAS.

Since: Feb 28, 2011

Posted on: June 28, 2011 6:36 pm

Duncan will not exercise option, no extension

Wow. Is TD officially the most overpaid player in the league now??

Since: Feb 8, 2011

Posted on: June 28, 2011 5:18 pm

Duncan will not exercise option, no extension

Tim Duncan is making the right choice. He will make $21.2 million this year. He can still play after next year if he chooses. I would think that he will look hard at whether he feels he can still contribute. If not he will retire. He is too classy of a player to stick around just to be there. If he plays after next year, it will be with the Spurs. He is loyal and they are loyal. Spurs or nothing.

Since: Oct 9, 2007

Posted on: June 28, 2011 2:00 pm

Duncan will not exercise option, no extension

Tim Duncan labored bad at the end of the season, in a local interview here in metro San Antonio, he said he just doesn't have the energy, speed and quickness he did and he just can't get it there. That is why you see him take more of the step back jump shots rather than attack the basket. I see him playing out his contract this season and hanging it up and retiring a Spur. I am wondering if his body will make it htrough even just one more season. You can see his decline in his play. Duncan is hands down a Hall of Famer and top 10 all time at least. In his prime he was absolutely unstoppable if you go back and look. Going out with 4 rings, MVP, playoff MVP there is nothing more he needs to prove, he has done it all.

Since: Jun 14, 2009

Posted on: June 28, 2011 12:59 pm

Duncan will not exercise option, no extension

Duncan is no fool.If he sighned a new deal else where it would take him at least 3-4 years to make what he is due on the final year of his current deal.He doesnt have 4 years left in him.

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